Feasibility Study and Energy Applications of Advanced (2G and 3G) Biofuels in South Africa

Abstract

Recent advancements in the technology, economy and sustainability of bioenergy from biomass and biofuel have been revolutionized. There is the utmost need for the sustainability of bioenergy and in transmogrifying the approaches to sourcing, production and overall applicability and thus the intensification of socio-economic impacts of the use of biofuels as bioenergy source in different energy sectors of the global economy. Albeit, in the production and generation of biofuels from food crops and feedstocks, there has been intercontinental technological logjam as the stream of food, water vs energy chain becomes threatened. Production of bio-energy from food crops and feedstocks poses immense pressure on food sustainability with attendant competitive consequences. There are indirect and direct environmental impacts associated, mostly stressing the soil, land and water when cultivating and growing the energy crops and feedstocks. There is no doubt that advanced biofuels will overcome this threat and challenges especially in Africa as this monotonous dependence will be eliminated. Feasibility study of advanced biofuels and energy applications is required to boom biofuel industry in South Africa. A technique called residue to product ratio was used to generate data on crop residues potentially available to produce advanced biofuels. Excel spreadsheet was used for results analysis. About 13.5 Mt of crop residues from 19 crops were made available which can generate 4.9 GL of bioethanol per year using biochemical route conversion technology. This study will impact on policy development in biofuel sector by government of South Africa. It will also help potential investors willing to embark on advanced biofuels. The outcome can also be used as a model for Africa as a whole